Resource allocation in food crop production and farming household food security in Kwara state

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the optimal combination of enterprises in food crop production in order to improve the food security status of farming household in Kwara State. Data was collected from 74 farming households by means of a three - stage random sampling technique. Analytical tools used include food security indices and a linear programming model. The study found that more than 60% of the sampled farming households are food insecure. Given the average household land size, labour and capital of 2.236 hectares, 271.57 man-day and N15,677.30 respectively, optimal resources allocation will yield the highest annual farm income of N110,473.50. To improve the food security status of farming households in the study area, farmers should allocate their resources in such a way that they would realize highest return from their productive activities.

Key Words: Resources, Food Security, Activities